September Fishing Forecast

Winter Haven

 Overall fishing’s gotten pretty tough around Winter Haven. The surface temp is around 90, therefore most bass are staying in deeper, cooler water. Good electronics are a must right now. Those that know how to use their electronics are still having some success despite the heat. Finding the shad schools is the key to finding the bass. Look for some type of cover: submerged grass, brushpiles or anything else you can find in 8 ft of water or deeper. If shad are hanging around the cover than so are bass. Concentrate on 8-14 ft in darker water and 10-25 ft in clear water. Same old Summer patterns still best. Shad colored deep diving crankbaits along with Texas/Carolina rigged soft plastics will continue to produce the most consistent action. Don’t forget to vent fish caught deeper than 15 ft. Also look for schoolers in open water. Throw any shad imitating bait of your choice into the frenzy. Lures that can be cast long distances are best as it always seems the fish surface just out of range. For those of you hell bent on fishing the bank, get out very early to catch a few fish flipping deeper grassbeds, pads, reeds, or cattails in dark water lakes. After that try a few docks and head for the A.C. Best time to fish is at night.  

Kissimmee Chain

The bite has definitely slowed on Kissimmee. Not as many fish hanging around brushpiles as there was a month ago. Bass are mostly in shad chasing mode now and feeding mostly at night. Flip outside grasslines early, then further in as the day progresses. Also look for schoolers around mouths of trails early. Try shad colored topwaters or spinnerbaits. If there’s no clouds and wind the bite dies off in a hurry. Shell beds are worth a shot with shad colored crankbaits and Texas/Carolina rigged soft plastics. It’s a real chore to catch a few fish on clear, calm, hot days after about 9:00 a.m. There’s a few fish hanging around the little bit of hydrilla that remains in lake cypress. Flip or cast soft plastics around any visible grass that’s matted. Try rattlebaits or spinnerbaits around the submerged grass.
 Toho fishing a little better than other lakes on the chain now. Offshore hydrilla beds should produce the best results. Try spinnerbaits or rattlebaits early around submerged grassbeds then switch over to Texas/Carolina rigged soft plastics during midday hours and fish slow to entice bites from hot, lethargic, fish. Flip matted hydrilla with 1/2 – 1 oz weighted soft plastics or Jigs. Also check creek mouths for flowing water and schooling bass.

Central Florida is where you’ll find beautiful lakes, great bass fishing and Monte Goodman. Monte has made a career of doing what he enjoys and does best as a professional bass guide and successful tournament angler. Guiding and fishing competitively for the past 15 years has given him the experience, skill and knowledge it takes to be a great fisherman. Monte is also a vocal advocate of Florida’s habitat and conservation efforts, supports and practices “catch and release” himself and encourages others to do the same. A member of tournament trails such as FLW, FOMNTT, BFL, and B.A.S.S just to name a few. Credited with well over a hundred local tournament wins, was back to back Angler of the Year in the largest B.A.S.S. affiliated club in the world, and has won numerous Big Bass honors. Monte’s ability to adapt, his versatility and lengthy resume has earned him a reputation anyone would be proud of.